Britains dominate International Emmy awards

British television productions dominated the International Emmy awards last night, winning seven awards including one for a controversial film about a fictitious assassination of President Bush.

Jim Broadbent shared the best actor award for his role in the BBC's The Street, which was also named best drama series at the ceremony in New York.

Stephen Fry's The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive won the best documentary category. In his documentary, the comedian talks about his own and other people's experiences of living with bipolar disorder. After picking up his award, Fry said: "It's a lucky evening for us. We're lucky to have this institution, the BBC, and that's helped generations of people (in television)."

The corporation won six awards, including best arts programming, best non-scripted entertainment and best comedy series, at the 35th International Emmys, which recognise excellence in television programming produced outside America.

Al Gore was also honoured for his efforts to raise awareness over global warming.

Collecting the Founders Award from Robert De Niro, the former US vice president said the future of democracy depended "to a surprising degree on democratising television". He said: "Television has had the greatest potential for educating and informing of any medium in the history of communications."

Broadbent, who was nominated for his role as an embittered pensioner in The Street, shared the best actor honour with Pierre Bokma, a Dutch actor.

Simon Schama's Power of Art: Bernini, a BBC co-production about the Baroque sculptor, was named best arts programme while the BBC's singer talent hunt series, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, won best non-scripted entertainment series.

The BBC's Little Britain Abroad was named best comedy.

Death of a President, by Borough Films for More 4, won best TV movie/mini-series. Directed by Gabriel Range, it centres around the fictionalised assassination of President Bush.

Victoria Wood was nominated for her role in the drama Housewife, 49, based on the Second World War diary of a Lancashire housewife. However, the award went to the French actress Muriel Robin.